Activities
Projects
Friends of the Lime Works has an ambitious list of planned projects and ongoing events. Come put your interests and talents to work!
- Restore the Cooperage: Built in 1869, this iconic structure is located adjacent to Coolidge Drive near the Campus main entrance. It was originally used for manufacturing and storing wooden barrels. It is a fascinating structure, designed similar to a covered bridge, and is key to telling the story of lime manufacturing and shipping. Status: stabilization work done in 2009 with a grant from the S. H. Cowell Foundation. Historic American Building Survey documentation and report completed in 2012, with support of a grant from the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County and income from Friends memberships. Restoration work in the planning stage; funding needed.
- Restore the Hay Barn: Probably built in the 1860s, this massive barn is of timber-frame design with wooden pegs and mortise-and-tenon joins. Badly deteriorated, it is in need of immediate attention. The barn presents multiple opportunities for adaptive re-use while preserving its historical character. Status: Historic American Building Survey documentation and report for the Hay Barn completed in 2011, with support of a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and funding from UCSC and Friends of the Lime Works members contributions. Planning stage; fundraising in progress.
- Restore the Cardiff Shed: This small shed, perhaps dating from the 1860s, has been disassembled and will be reassembled after the completion of archaeological work at the site. Status: Completion scheduled for 2013; additional funding will speed up restoration.
- Restore the Workers Cabins: Six late nineteenth century cabins remain, two of them still standing, four of them collapsed, all to be restored. Restoration work began in 2009 with the help of volunteers and donations of funds and materials. Status: Ongoing multiyear project; additional funding and donations of materials needed. Cabin B will be completed in 2013.
- Design and install interpretive signs throughout the historic district: Status: Have funding; signs in the design stage and will be fabricated and installed this year.
- Publish walking tour brochure for historic features on the upper campus: Status: Rough draft written by student. Need funding for publication.
- Develop walking tour and living history docent program: Status: Self-guided walking tour brochure available at Admissions office and on this website. Volunteers presently give tours to small groups as requested. Funding needed to expand program and offer tours to school groups.
Conduct archaeological investigations within the district: Status: Ongoing. The Friends will be sponsoring a student archaeological excavation in the Historic District in Spring 2013, in cooperation with the UCSC Anthropology Department. Contact the Friends if you would like to help fund this important work.
- Develop and distribute curriculum materials focused on the district for public school use: Status: Preliminary planning, with assistance of UCSC student interns, waiting for funding.
- Repair historic lime kilns: Four of the seven lime kilns on the campus have damage to their masonry. This needs to be repaired in order to halt further deterioration and to restore them to their original appearance. Status: Have cost estimates; funding needed.